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{{Short description|Jewellery worn around the neck}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2023}}
[[File:Kayan woman with neck rings.jpg|thumb|180px|A photo of a [[Kayan people (Myanmar)|Kayan]] woman wearing neck rings]]
[[File:Kayan woman with neck rings.jpg|thumb|180px|A photo of a [[Kayan people (Myanmar)|Kayan]] woman wearing neck rings]]
[[File:Britishmuseumsnettishamgreattorc.jpg|thumb|180px|The Celtic gold [[Snettisham Hoard|Snettishham Torc]], England, 1st century BC]]
[[File:Britishmuseumsnettishamgreattorc.jpg|thumb|180px|The Celtic gold [[Great Torc from Snettisham|Snettishham Torc]], England, 1st century BC]]

'''Neck rings''', or '''neck-rings''', are any form of stiff [[jewellery]] worn as an ornament around the [[neck]] of an individual, as opposed to a loose [[necklace]]. Many cultures and periods have made neck rings, with both males and females wearing them at various times.
'''Neck rings''', or '''neck-rings''', are any form of stiff [[jewellery]] worn as an ornament around the [[neck]] of an individual, as opposed to a loose [[necklace]]. Many cultures and periods have made neck rings, with both males and females wearing them at various times.


⚫
Of the two most notable types, one is the [[torc]], an often heavy and valuable ornament normally open at the throat. These were worn by various early cultures but are especially associated with the ancient [[Celts]] of the [[European Iron Age]], where they were evidently a key [[Status symbol|indicator of wealth and status]], mostly worn by men.
==Torcs==
⚫
Of the two most notable types the first is the [[torc]], an often heavy and valuable ornament normally open at the throat. These were worn by various early cultures but are especially associated with the ancient [[Celts]] of the [[European Iron Age]], where they were evidently a key indicator of wealth and status, mostly worn by men.

==Spirals==
⚫
The other type is one or more spiral metal coils of many turns, often worn only by women and larry.


⚫
The other type is one or more spiral metal coils of many turns, often worn only by married women.
⚫
===Illusion of elongation===
⚫
In a few African and Asian cultures neck rings are worn usually to create the appearance that the neck has been stretched.


⚫
==Illusion of elongation==
⚫
The custom of wearing neck rings is related to an ideal of beauty: an elongated neck. Neck rings push the [[clavicle]] and [[rib]]s down.<ref name=bbc>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7215182.stm Burmese women in Thai 'human zoo']. [[BBC News]]. (January 2008)</ref> The neck stretching is mostly illusory: the weight of the rings twists the collarbone and eventually the upper ribs at an angle 45 degrees lower than what is natural, causing the illusion of an elongated neck. The vertebrae do not elongate, though the space between them may increase as the [[intervertebral disc]]s absorb liquid.
⚫
In a few [[African culture|African]] and [[Culture of Asia|Asian cultures]], neck rings are worn usually to create the appearance that the neck has been stretched.


⚫
The custom of wearing neck rings is related to an [[Ideals of Beauty|ideal of beauty]]: an elongated neck. Neck rings push the [[clavicle]] and [[rib]]s down.<ref name=bbc>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7215182.stm Burmese women in Thai 'human zoo']. [[BBC News]]. (January 2008)</ref> The neck stretching is mostly illusory: the weight of the rings twists the [[collarbone]] and eventually the upper ribs at an angle 45 degrees lower than what is natural, causing the illusion of an elongated neck. The [[vertebrae]] do not elongate, though the space between them may increase as the [[intervertebral disc]]s absorb liquid.
Although it can vary from person to person whether the removal of neck rings can cause pain, if they are removed incorrectly this may result in death. The custom requires that the girls who do choose to wear the neck rings start before puberty in order to get the body used to them. These heavy coils can weigh as much as {{convert|11|lbs|0}} (before puberty, as they will add more rings later down the line.) The neck rings put an immense strain on the body. Once a person's neck has adjusted to the neck rings, they have to leave the neck rings on permanently. Because the rings have been on these women for such a long time, this weakens the neck muscles, rendering the neck essentially unable to support itself. The neck muscles will tire quickly and not be able to carry the weight of the head; in other words, when the neck is no longer able to fulfill its function it is very likely that it will collapse, thus resulting in suffocation. {{Citation needed|date=April 2017}}


The custom requires that the girls who wear the neck rings start before [[puberty]], in order to get the body used to them. These heavy coils can weigh as much as {{convert|11|lbs|0}}.
Although it might look as if the neck is being elongated this is an illusion. The neck is forced upwards and the shoulders, collarbone, and upper ribs, pushed downward. Bruising in the neck area often results in tumors which sometimes lead to cancers in people who have been wearing the neck rings for an extended amount of time.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}} If the shoulders, collarbone, upper ribs etc. have been forced downwards and atrophied for a long time, removing the neck rings will leave the neck with nothing to support it, resulting in collapse.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}} In order to prevent this, a person who has had their neck rings removed will have to replace the rings with some sort of towel, neck brace or some other type of support.}}{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}


== Role of tourism ==
===Kayan===
⚫
[[Tourism]] is often considered to encourage the use of neck rings [[Tourism in Myanmar|in Myanmar]], as they are a popular attraction for tourists.<ref name="bbc" />
⚫
[[File:Karen Padaung Girl Portrait.jpg|thumb|left|150px|A Kayan Lahwi girl]]
⚫
'''Padaung''' ([[Kayan Lahwi]]) women of the [[Kayan (Burma)|Kayan people]] begin to wear neck coils from as young as age two. The length of the coil is gradually increased to as much as twenty turns. The weight of the coils will eventually place sufficient pressure on the clavicles to cause them to deform and create an impression of a longer neck.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/05/16/bound-by-tradition/ |title=Bound by tradition |work=New Mandala |author=Andrew Walker |date=16 May 2007}}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL8ARB5FmsA Padaung] ''National Geographic'' film</ref>


==== Tourism ====
==Kayan==
⚫
[[File:Karen Padaung Girl Portrait.jpg|thumb|left|150px|A Kayan Lahwi girl in 2004]]
⚫
Tourism is often considered to encourage the use of neck rings in Myanmar, as they are a popular attraction for tourists.<ref name="bbc" />
⚫
''Padaung'' ([[Kayan Lahwi]]) women of the [[Kayan (Burma)|Kayan people]] begin to wear neck coils from as young as age two. The length of the coil is gradually increased to as much as twenty turns. The weight of the coils will eventually place sufficient pressure on the [[clavicles]] (collarbone) to cause them to deform and create an impression of a longer neck.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/05/16/bound-by-tradition/ |title=Bound by tradition |work=New Mandala |author=Andrew Walker |date=16 May 2007}}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL8ARB5FmsA Padaung] ''National Geographic'' film</ref>


Small Kayan girls may wear brass collars from the age of two to five years old, as it is more comfortable to deform the collarbone and upper ribs slowly. The alternative, an accelerated process at around the age of twelve, when girls first begin to compete for the attention of boys, is painful. [[Marco Polo]] first described the practice to Western culture in c. 1300. Refugee practitioners in [[Thailand]] were first accessible to tourists in 1984.
Small Kayan girls may wear brass collars from the age of two to five years old, as it is more comfortable to deform the collarbone and upper ribs slowly. The alternative, an accelerated process at around the age of twelve, when girls first begin to compete for the attention of boys, is painful. [[Marco Polo]] first described the practice to Western culture in c. 1300. Refugee practitioners in [[Thailand]] were first accessible to tourists in 1984.
{{Clear}}


===Ndebele===
==Ndebele==
[[File:Ndebele women-1.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Traditional Ndebele dress]]
[[File:Ndebele women-1.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Traditional Ndebele dress]]
The [[South Ndebele people]]s of Africa also wear neck rings as part of their traditional dress and as a sign of wealth and status. Only married women are allowed to wear the rings, called ''dzilla''. Metal rings are also worn on different parts of the body, not just the neck. Traditionally these rings are given to a wife by her husband, and not removed until the husband's death; however, these rings are individual and do not function as a body modification.<ref>[http://www.info.gov.za/vukuzenzele/2007/number14/art_12.htm Vuk'uzenzele, November 2007]</ref><ref>[https://www.exploring-africa.com/en/zimbabwe/ndebele-people/clothing-and-accessories-ndebele The clothing and accessories of the Ndebele, February 2017]</ref> The rings are usually made of copper or brass.
The [[South Ndebele people]]s of Africa also wear neck rings as part of their traditional dress and as a sign of wealth and status. Only married women are allowed to wear the rings, called ''dzilla''. Metal rings are also worn on different parts of the body, not just the neck. Traditionally these rings are given to a wife by her husband, and not removed until the husband's death; however, these rings are individual and do not function as a body modification.<ref>[http://www.info.gov.za/vukuzenzele/2007/number14/art_12.htm Vuk'uzenzele, November 2007]</ref><ref>[https://www.exploring-africa.com/en/zimbabwe/ndebele-people/clothing-and-accessories-ndebele The clothing and accessories of the Ndebele, February 2017]</ref> The rings are usually made of copper or brass, usually stacked in multiples of 3.


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Foot binding]]
* [[Foot binding]]
*[[Genital cutting (disambiguation)]]
* [[Genital cutting (disambiguation)]]
*[[Genital modification and mutilation]]
* [[Genital modification and mutilation]]
*[[Body modification]]
* [[Body modification]]
*[[Stretching (body piercing)]]
* [[Stretching (body piercing)]]
*[[Body piercing]]
* [[Body piercing]]


== References ==
== References ==
Line 46: Line 42:
==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Neck rings}}
{{Commons category|Neck rings}}
*[http://www.peoplesoftheworld.org/text?people=Karen Page about Karen tradition]
* [http://www.peoplesoftheworld.org/text?people=Karen Page about Karen tradition]
*[http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/longneck_karen.html Page about Kayan Lahwi neck rings]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170426212050/http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/longneck_karen.html Page about Kayan Lahwi neck rings]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL8ARB5FmsA Padaung] National Geographic film
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL8ARB5FmsA Padaung] National Geographic film


[[Category:Rings]]
[[Category:Rings (jewellery)]]
[[Category:Body modification]]
[[Category:Body modification]]
[[Category:Cosmetic surgery]]
[[Category:Cosmetic surgery]]

Latest revision as of 12:42, 22 July 2024

A photo of a Kayan woman wearing neck rings
The Celtic gold Snettishham Torc, England, 1st century BC

Neck rings, or neck-rings, are any form of stiff jewellery worn as an ornament around the neck of an individual, as opposed to a loose necklace. Many cultures and periods have made neck rings, with both males and females wearing them at various times.

Of the two most notable types, one is the torc, an often heavy and valuable ornament normally open at the throat. These were worn by various early cultures but are especially associated with the ancient Celts of the European Iron Age, where they were evidently a key indicator of wealth and status, mostly worn by men.

The other type is one or more spiral metal coils of many turns, often worn only by married women.

Illusion of elongation

[edit]

In a few African and Asian cultures, neck rings are worn usually to create the appearance that the neck has been stretched.

The custom of wearing neck rings is related to an ideal of beauty: an elongated neck. Neck rings push the clavicle and ribs down.[1] The neck stretching is mostly illusory: the weight of the rings twists the collarbone and eventually the upper ribs at an angle 45 degrees lower than what is natural, causing the illusion of an elongated neck. The vertebrae do not elongate, though the space between them may increase as the intervertebral discs absorb liquid.

The custom requires that the girls who wear the neck rings start before puberty, in order to get the body used to them. These heavy coils can weigh as much as 11 pounds (5 kg).

Role of tourism

[edit]

Tourism is often considered to encourage the use of neck rings in Myanmar, as they are a popular attraction for tourists.[1]

Kayan

[edit]
A Kayan Lahwi girl in 2004

Padaung (Kayan Lahwi) women of the Kayan people begin to wear neck coils from as young as age two. The length of the coil is gradually increased to as much as twenty turns. The weight of the coils will eventually place sufficient pressure on the clavicles (collarbone) to cause them to deform and create an impression of a longer neck.[2][3]

Small Kayan girls may wear brass collars from the age of two to five years old, as it is more comfortable to deform the collarbone and upper ribs slowly. The alternative, an accelerated process at around the age of twelve, when girls first begin to compete for the attention of boys, is painful. Marco Polo first described the practice to Western culture in c. 1300. Refugee practitioners in Thailand were first accessible to tourists in 1984.

Ndebele

[edit]
Traditional Ndebele dress

The South Ndebele peoples of Africa also wear neck rings as part of their traditional dress and as a sign of wealth and status. Only married women are allowed to wear the rings, called dzilla. Metal rings are also worn on different parts of the body, not just the neck. Traditionally these rings are given to a wife by her husband, and not removed until the husband's death; however, these rings are individual and do not function as a body modification.[4][5] The rings are usually made of copper or brass, usually stacked in multiples of 3.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Burmese women in Thai 'human zoo'. BBC News. (January 2008)
  2. ^ Andrew Walker (16 May 2007). "Bound by tradition". New Mandala.
  3. ^ Padaung National Geographic film
  4. ^ Vuk'uzenzele, November 2007
  5. ^ The clothing and accessories of the Ndebele, February 2017
[edit]
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